Pak to lose $12 mn if 2011 WC matches shifted out

The PCB could end up losing around $12 million dollars if the ICC decides to shift the 2011 World Cup matches that are to be held in Pakistan.

Written by Press Trust of India

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Karahi:

The Pakistan Cricket Board could end up losing around $12 million dollars if the ICC decides to shift the 2011 World Cup matches that are to be held in Pakistan.

According to details, the four host countries of the next World Cup, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh would all be paid $750,000 for each match they host including the semi-finals and final.

"Pakistan has been given 16 matches including one semi-final. Which means they will get a total sum of $12 million for hosting the World Cup matches from the ICC," a well informed official said on Friday.

He said the hosting fees for the matches is besides the share of the World Cup revenues that the ICC will distribute among its full Test playing nations and associate countries.

Pakistan will host 16 matches of the World Cup scheduled in February-March 2011 while India has the lions share of 22 matches including the final and Sri Lanka nine matches followed by Bangladesh who will host the opening ceremony and six matches.

After the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore on March 3, fears have been expressed by member countries over having the World Cup matches in Pakistan given the security situation in the country.

The PCB says that there is still considerable time left for the World Cup and no one should jump to conclusions about the security situation in the country.

"I think it is premature to speculate now about whether we will lose our share of World Cup matches due the security situation. We are hopeful that the situation would be different in next six to eight months with political stablity returning to the country," a board official added.

He, however, admitted that the issue of World Cup matches in Pakistan would be discussed soon by the ICC which itself is not keen to relocate the matches from Pakistan fearing the impact it would have on Pakistan cricket.

The PCB has already set up a World Cup secretariat in Lahore which has started functioning on a soft basis this month.

Pakistan has already lost the hosting rights of the Champions Trophy but the official said that in that case it would also be getting the hosting fees of UDS 2.75 million from the ICC.

"We are confident of hosting our share of the World Cup matches and we don't see any immediate threat of them being shifted," he added.

Pakistan cricket sustained heavy financial losses last year when Australia and India pulled out of confirmed FTP test tours.